Luxury car subscription services are gaining traction
Mercedes-Benz is the latest automaker to launch a subscription service that gives customers access to a variety of cars for a single monthly fee. Multiple subscription tiers are available, with a broad array of Mercedes-Benz offerings including SUV, sedan, coupe, cabriolet, roadster, and wagon models, as well as high-performance AMG models. Customers order cars though an app and Mercedes staff deliver them at a location and time of the customers’ choosing. It is covered by a single monthly fee that bundles maintenance, insurance, and 24/7 roadside assistance, as well as unlimited mileage. Services like this offer drivers the flexibility to have a car when they need one, without having to deal with the hassles of ownership. A subscription service lets Mercedes offer a more convenient experience for its customers but, perhaps more importantly, it ensures the German automaker can keep up with its rivals. Cadillac, Porsche, and Audi already offer their own subscription services. BMW recently launched its own subscription-service pilot in Nashville. Lincoln is expanding a service for lightly-used cars, which started as a pilot program in West Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2015.